Many of us choose our outfits based on fashion, rather than comfort. When we buy a new item of clothing, we usually do not stop to think about how it might affect our health. This is a big mistake if you continue to wear these clothes on a regular basis. You probably do not even realize it, but what you wear could be doing you far more harm than good. What are the signs that your clothes are unhealthy to wear? Let us take a look at six of the worst offenders.

Wrong Bra Size

Many of us have never had our bra size professionally measured and so we guess at the closest approximation. Perhaps we wear what we think is the correct size, not noticing that a larger size might fit more comfortably or a smaller size might offer needed support. Also, if you have had a bra for a considerable amount of time, it may have lost its shape, which can limit the level of support. What was once a 34B could stretch into a 34C and suddenly a bra that used to fit perfectly has become ill-fitting without you really noticing. Though it appears to be a minor detail, if your bra is not the right size for you, it could end up being unhealthy to wear.

Your bra is supposed to offer support for your breasts, which can make a difference between experiencing pain or comfort. Nonsupport can affect the posture and cause back pain, which can extend into the neck and shoulder.

On the other hand, if your bra is too tight, it can rub against the skin and cause irritation and burning. From a purely esthetic angle, an ill-fitting bra can be unflattering for larger breasts, as they can appear to droop and a bra that is too tight can restrict you and result in red lines on your skin.

Combat bra discomfort by having your bra size measured by a professional and then altering your current bras to fit the bill. You can do this yourself with a sewing kit if they need to be made tighter, but if you need something larger, your best bet is to hit the store and pick up some new bras. Nobody wants a bra that is unhealthy to wear.

High Heels

When you are going on a night out, high heels can be a sexy fashion statement. They can make you appear taller and in some cases, slimmer. Women may fall in love with a great pair of shoes and if the exact size is not available, they sometimes purchase the next closest size. If the size is bigger, the obvious problem would be slipping out of them while walking, which could trip you over your own feet, but a pair of heels that are too tight can result in problematic conditions such as corns, bunions, hammer toe (bent feet) and calluses. After all the work we put into keeping our feet pretty with pedicures and nail paint, why buy shoes that are unhealthy to wear?

Some heels are pointed at the toe, so your foot must scrunch to fit inside. This can result in swelling and pain that extends into the leg. The longer you wear the shoes, the more pronounced the problem will become. It is a good idea to select your shoes more carefully, for style and comfort. This can be done by going down to a smaller heel if you are wearing them more throughout the day, or you can find a pair that is wider across the toe area.

Too Tight Jeans

Wearing trousers and jeans that are too tight increases your risk of getting thrush. Like all yeast infections, thrush favors conditions that are warm and moist. Tight-fitting jeans create these conditions, so they provide a perfect breeding ground for yeast infections. If you wear tight-fitting clothes on a regular basis, you are dramatically increasing your chances of getting regular yeast infections. These are both unpleasant and irritating.

To give your skin a chance to breathe, wear cotton underwear as often as possible. Limit how often you wear tight-fitting clothes on your bottom half as well, as these are clothes are potentially unhealthy to wear on a consistent basis. Additionally, clothes that are too tight around the waist can cause stomachache. If you happen to suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, tight clothes can make the pain worse, as they are restrictive.

Low-slung jeans are unhealthy to wear, though very stylish at the moment.

They can trigger a nerve near your hipbone that can cause your outer thighs to feel as though they are on fire. If this happens frequently, the pain can become chronic. Jeans that are higher up on the hips tend to present less of a health hazard.

Thong Panties

Though a cute pair of thongs can eliminate the dreaded visible panty line, they can also cause thrush and cystitis. In fact, they pose the same risks as tight-fitting jeans and trousers because the tight fit increases your chances of getting a yeast infection. In addition, they can create some added discomfort by rubbing and chafing around your sensitive areas. If one of those cuts or scrapes gets infected, you will have a further problem to deal with and can be especially painful if you shave your bikini area regularly. Pubic hair will protect the area from cuts, but if this is on the minimal side, you are more open to infections.

Thongs can also increase the risk of bacteria spreading between your vagina and anus because they are so close to both areas. Your vagina can unknowingly house bacteria from the anus, which can cause infection. If you are pregnant, you may want to consult a doctor about the risks of wearing thong underwear during your pregnancy.

To limit the risks involved in wearing a thong, you should wear them as seldom as possible - literally when it is otherwise unavoidable, for example, when you are wearing incredibly skimpy clothes.

Cotton underwear might seem a lot less sexy, but it is far healthier to wear.

Sunglasses without Protection

Your might think that your sunglasses make a fashion statement, but if they do not have UV protection, they can pose a big health risk to your eyes. UV rays can enter the eyes and become absorbed. This can damage your eyes, and over a significant time period, it can cause cataracts to develop, and permanent damage to the retina. Younger people are being diagnosed with cataracts as a result of increased exposure to the sun's UV rays.

To make sure that your sunglasses offer adequate protection, look for labeling that indicates UVA and UVB protection. Choosing a pair of sunglasses that sit close to the nose is also important; if there is a sizeable gap between the frames and your eyes, ultraviolet light that the sunglasses can protect against have a chance of getting in. Though you think you are doing yourself a favor by wearing shades, if they are not protected, they can end up being just as unhealthy to wear as going without sunglasses altogether.

Large Handbags

Large handbags are very fashionable at the moment, but they can cause severe neck and shoulder pain and tension headaches if you carry them everywhere. Besides weighing you down physically, they can also weigh you down mentally, as more things have a potential for getting lost inside and life starts to feel more unorganized.

You can get around this by carrying only the essentials, such as money, your cell phone, and a few items of loose make up. If you need to carry other items, put them in a separate bag and carry this on your other shoulder. This will help avoid making a handbag a product which is unhealthy to wear and balance things out.

These health problems do not generally happen overnight, so you can take steps to prevent them turning into full-brown problems once you are aware of the effects that certain clothes and footwear can have on your health. Also, it may be a good idea to limit your unhealthy clothes to the times you need them. If you plan to sit in your house all day and not see anyone that would be a good time to wear comfy sweatpants and let your body breathe.

What’s Your Fashion Personality?

Do clothes make the woman or does the woman make the clothes? Whether you love to sew your own threads or prefer to browse Rodeo Drive, your wardrobe reflects your personality. Find out what your clothes are saying about you with our fashion quiz.